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In the latest episode of The Purple Patch, Duck & Oz run through the matchups they are looking forward to in Freo’s Round 17 clash with Hawthorn at University of Tasmania Stadium on Saturday.

The Purple Patch is the official Fremantle podcast for the fans made by the fans that comes out every Friday and previews the game each week.

Hosts Duck and Oz, self-proclaimed Freo tragics from The Purple Reign podcast, provide great insight to each game from a fan perspective.

Ryan Nyhuis v Luke Breust

This is the key match-up in our backline. It’s Nyhuis’ fourth game this year and we thought he was really great against the Bulldogs and the Crows when he did a ripper job on Eddie Betts.

Breust has kicked 25 goals in 2019 and he’s probably the most underrated small forward in the competition. He’s also kicked 10 goals in the last four games against the Dockers, but we believe Nyhuis is the key to locking him down.

The match-up on Breust is even more important with Jack Gunston out with injury, but if Nyhuis can do a job on him he’ll have a real chance to stay in the team and cement his spot in Freo’s best 22.

Fyfe v O’Meara is the dream match-up and is what fans would pay admission to see but unfortunately it may not eventuate.

O’Meara has had some significant impact on games in 2019 and is one of the reasons why the Hawks remain a chance of playing finals.

If you look at it head-to-head, these two are quite similar in some key performance indicators, especially in disposals and clearances, and if they do end up lining up alongside each other it will be interesting to watch how it turns out.

But we think the Hawks’ Daniel Howe will use his lockdown strengths and head to Fyfe off the back of a similar role from West Coast’s Elliot Yeo last week in RAC Derby 50.

We wouldn’t be surprised if that run-with role was noted and it becomes the blueprint on how to shut down our contested beast, but we think Fyfey will bounce back from last week.

Rory Lobb v James Sicily

For us, this is an opportunity for Lobb to prove his forward/ruck abilities, especially with Darcy in the side who can ruck for the majority of the day. We need to be straightened up and have a forward option and we think that’s where Lobb needs to stand up.

If Lobb can kick two or three goals and take some big contested marks it will be very important because it feels like it could be a low-scoring affair down in Launceston.

Meanwhile Sicily is the key to the Hawks defence, he is a great intercept mark and his kicking is elite, but hopefully we can see him have a quieter game and there’s even a chance he may have to move forward with Gunston out of the side.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs